Riding in Shorts

[UselessPickles]

Another more relevant quote from the Harry Hurt report:

Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.

 

[bramfrank]

Of course, the reason why most accidents occur within 5 miles of home and on short trips is that is where the majority of use occurs - it isn't that the risk goes down, per se when you get beyond the five mile point. It is simply that machines and their operators tend spend less of their overall time in that particular environment

 

[user 213]

Thanks for the tip. I guess I would have neede an even better story for the forum, especially if posted on a Friday.

So true! But on the up side, we would all help you generate a cool story to share at the ER that would have them thinking "how come I never have that much fun?"

 

[Top_Speed1]

Of course, the reason why most accidents occur within 5 miles of home and on short trips is that is where the majority of use occurs - it isn't that the risk goes down, per se when you get beyond the five mile point. It is simply that machines and their operators tend spend less of their overall time in that particular environment

Majority of use in this area +1

 

[Fred W]

Of course, the reason why most accidents occur within 5 miles of home and on short trips is that is where the majority of use occurs - it isn't that the risk goes down, per se when you get beyond the five mile point. It is simply that machines and their operators tend spend less of their overall time in that particular environment

While this is true, I think that the accident rate is still higher per mile traveled when close to home vs the longer trips. Something to do with the familiarity of ones' surroundings causing you to be less "alert". That is what I've heard anyway.

In either case, it certainly doesn't mean that it is any safer to ride short trips close to home.

 

[TwoWhldTerror]

If i'm just going for a short ride like to my buddies... yes, shorts McGee here i come. I'm not dressing all up in no 100 degree weather to go down the road a it. U can call it stupid (protection wise) but at least I won't be one of those morons spending more time dressing and undressing than what it takes total time to get there. Long or aggressive rides is another story and yes I'm all about the correct gear. So depends ~~~~ situation.

Now I do wear a FF helmet even in States that don't require them. Go figure but note the helmet whips on in 1.6 seconds.

Here's something to keep in mind regarding those "just around the corner" trips (from an insurance website):

Distance From Home % of Accidents

< 1 mile 23%

2 - 5 miles 29%

6 - 10 miles 17%

11 - 15 miles 8%

16 - 20 miles 6%

> 20 miles 17%

Over 50% occur within 5 miles from home.

Sure...but WHY? Based on what I have read it is that people let their guard down, become inattentive, are not "in the game" as they leave/arrive close to home.

So, can it be possible to skew those statistics if one is "in the game" from the moment they leave the garage?

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

Riding in shorts is DUMB whether down your street or 2,000 miles away from home...end of story.

 

[user 213]

Bottom line, riding safely is about managing your risks. We all do that in a large variety of ways. Protective gear is one of those ways, but also how and where we choose to ride is another. I'd bet that most of us have ridden in less than ATGATT on occasions. Some more regularly than others. When I'm out riding all day and park at the hotel I try to find a hotel/motel that's walking distance to food so I don't need to get back on the bike. I can enjoy an adult beverage and walk to dinner this way and not get back on the bike.

Still, I've been in places where there simply was no decent food option near the hotel/motel. I've also had occasions where I was meeting local peeps at a restaurant, and I didn't have advance knowledge of where that would be in town, so had to ride there. Well, I could have taken a cab, but that's just not something I usually consider. I've dealt with this in several ways, ordering delivery food like pizza or chinese, gearing up and going to get food and bring it back to the hotel, and mostly when meeting others at some restaurant a mile or five away from my hotel, just riding down there in shorts and a tee shirt.

If I choose to ride that way, I manage my risks by riding at a more relaxed pace and deliberately giving and creating more space around me. I stay off the interstate, I am hyper aware of conditions and intersections, etc. I'm pretty aware on any ride, but things just go up a notch. I know there is the potential for greater injury if bad things happen, but I have accepted the risks and manage them the best I can for that occasion.

On any given ride I'm typically wearing $1500+ of high quality protective gear. I can remember one time in the last year where I rode in less than ATGATT, which was in street pants, riding boots, riding jacket and helmet to go get a pizza and bring it back to the motel for the wife and I to enjoy in a small town that had little to offer and no delivery service from the only pizza place. I also spent 10 years riding w/o helmets and little more than a leather jacket and gloves/goggles with jeans and boots. I survived that. People survive riding in shorts too, it's just a different level of risk. In some situations, it's dumb and the risks of injury are greater. In others, it's still a higher risk, but if the rider is managing those risks, it's just a personal choice. The awareness of the risks make the difference between stupid and simply an increased risk.

The Great thing here is we all get to make those personal choices for ourselves. :good:

 

[Fred W]

Sure...but WHY? Based on what I have read it is that people let their guard down, become inattentive, are not "in the game" as they leave/arrive close to home.

So, can it be possible to skew those statistics if one is "in the game" from the moment they leave the garage?

Absolutely, YES! That is the takeaway folks should be getting from those stats. Don't let your guard down regardless of how far you are from home.

But somehow, riding in shorts and a tee shirt sounds a whole lot like "letting your guard down" to me.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Riding in shorts is DUMB whether down your street or 2,000 miles away from home...end of story.

FUZZY BALLS!!!!!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Don't let your guard down regardless of how far you are from home.

When I'm coming back from a long trip...I remind myself to be extra alert and not relax because I'm "almost home".

The trip isn't done until you are in your driveway, engine stopped, sidestand down.

 

[Top_Speed1]

Bottom line, riding safely is about managing your risks. We all do that in a large variety of ways. Protective gear is one of those ways, but also how and where we choose to ride is another. I'd bet that most of us have ridden in less than ATGATT on occasions. Some more regularly than others. When I'm out riding all day and park at the hotel I try to find a hotel/motel that's walking distance to food so I don't need to get back on the bike. I can enjoy an adult beverage and walk to dinner this way and not get back on the bike.

Still, I've been in places where there simply was no decent food option near the hotel/motel. I've also had occasions where I was meeting local peeps at a restaurant, and I didn't have advance knowledge of where that would be in town, so had to ride there. Well, I could have taken a cab, but that's just not something I usually consider. I've dealt with this in several ways, ordering delivery food like pizza or chinese, gearing up and going to get food and bring it back to the hotel, and mostly when meeting others at some restaurant a mile or five away from my hotel, just riding down there in shorts and a tee shirt.

If I choose to ride that way, I manage my risks by riding at a more relaxed pace and deliberately giving and creating more space around me. I stay off the interstate, I am hyper aware of conditions and intersections, etc. I'm pretty aware on any ride, but things just go up a notch. I know there is the potential for greater injury if bad things happen, but I have accepted the risks and manage them the best I can for that occasion.

On any given ride I'm typically wearing $1500+ of high quality protective gear. I can remember one time in the last year where I rode in less than ATGATT, which was in street pants, riding boots, riding jacket and helmet to go get a pizza and bring it back to the motel for the wife and I to enjoy in a small town that had little to offer and no delivery service from the only pizza place. I also spent 10 years riding w/o helmets and little more than a leather jacket and gloves/goggles with jeans and boots. I survived that. People survive riding in shorts too, it's just a different level of risk. In some situations, it's dumb and the risks of injury are greater. In others, it's still a higher risk, but if the rider is managing those risks, it's just a personal choice. The awareness of the risks make the difference between stupid and simply an increased risk.

The Great thing here is we all get to make those personal choices for ourselves. :good:

I'm with ya, vast majority of the time I have the correct protective gear on and believe in it 100% as you do. It's those little once in awhile "short" runs that we take the chances on, and I know it only takes one little instance. My store is 2 blocks away from the coffee shop, on bad days I drive (my car) there with no seatbelt on (holy smokes, I'm sure all the safety freeq-peeps are shuttering now lol). Yes I know it's safer with it on but I take the chance just doing the 2 blocks and back again. Any other time I have my seat belt on and totally believe in them, actually it's automatic now n I don't even think about it.

I still will drive my car to the coffee shop with no seatbelt on.

I still will ride my bike to my neighbors house down the street in shorts.

Chances are taken everyday, and if any cigarette smoker here doesn't think so? Yeah, who's fooling who. My best friend just died of Lung Cancer back in May. RIP my best bud Jerry Jeffries, past owner of a Yamaha Dealership in Constantia NY on Oneida Lake.

Peace

 

[wheatonFJR]

ooooooh. risk taker! ooooh!

 

[Top_Speed1]

ooooooh. risk taker! ooooh!

yeah no seatbelt I know.... ewww big risk taker lol

I know most of u here are mostly into bikes but I ride all year on all different type of power toyz. Riding a bike a short distance down the street to my buddies in shorts is probably one of the smallest risks I take all year.

Pictured here with my bud Jerry (red) in Old Forge NY (Adirondacks). Yes, I have full protective gear on! (my gloves are on the dash of my 1200 doo).

 

[SacramentoMike]

Don't let your guard down regardless of how far you are from home.

When I'm coming back from a long trip...I remind myself to be extra alert and not relax because I'm "almost home".

The trip isn't done until you are in your driveway, engine stopped, sidestand down.

Careful. 8,314 accidents involved tripping over the porch steps or the welcome mat coming in from the driveway in 2011, according to some official statistics I heard about.

I'm changing my official residence address to Stockton. It's not so I can run for the US Senate from that district. It's so I'll NEVER be within five miles of home. So now I'm, like, 63% safer. Statistics don't lie!

 

[NightShine]

What is the big deal about? In summer months, I ride in cargo shorts all of the time.

But I wear them under my motoport mesh overpants...

 

[Old Michael]

....I'm changing my official residence address to Stockton. It's not so I can run for the US Senate from that district. It's so I'll NEVER be within five miles of home. So now I'm, like, 63% safer.

You do a lot of intense thinkin', don't ya, Mike.

 

[txvoyager]

When I'm considering it, I go to Google images and type in "road rash".

+1... or +100!

 

[Old Michael]

The trip isn't done until you are in your driveway, engine stopped, sidestand down, ...and ride report posted.

 

[Bugnatr]

I know most of u here are mostly into bikes but I ride all year on all different type of power toyz. Riding a bike a short distance down the street to my buddies in shorts is probably one of the smallest risks I take all year.

Pictured here with my bud Jerry (red) in Old Forge NY (Adirondacks). Yes, I have full protective gear on! (my gloves are on the dash of my 1200 doo).

I for one could care less how you ride to the store, that's your choice. Just look at the scooter crowd, those people are very brave.

However I am in lust over your sleds, damn I miss snowmobiling but with 4 bikes I can ride all year the wife would start cutting off body parts if I came home with a sled

OR even worse she would get another horse :blink: